China must like Chris Matthews, cause they’re playing Hardball with Apple.

China Mobile—China’s largest cell phone carrier with more than 600 million subscribers—knows they’re integral to Apple’s success in the region and the terms they are requesting to bring the iPhone to their network reflect it. China Mobile is requesting that they get a slice of the App Store revenue pie in exchange for carrying the phone on their network.

Apple ain't havin' it.

The two companies have been in talks to bring the phone to the worlds largest network since 2008, but nothing has ever materialized. Apple’s notorious need to control everything and their inability to budge has apparently met another entity just as stubborn, and just as important.

However, Apple in order to bring an iPhone to China Mobile’s network needs to produce a TD-SCDMA-compatible iPhone. None of the current generation iPhones are compatible with China Mobile’s 3G network. That hasn’t stopped 10 million iPhone users from using WiFi only data on China Mobile though. Apple has the time, money, and market share necessary to survive long enough to produce an iPhone 5 compatible with China Mobile’s network and in the meantime work out the terms.

Apple's iPhone will make its way to China Mobile's network eventually. The upside is too huge for Apple to ignore.

No but really, I think that's really uproarious. China mobile is missing out if they choose not to carry it. They will succumb like the rest of the major carriers in the US have. T-mobile... you're next.

If they want to be stingy, Apple should get a cut of data charges for App store downloads, push notifications, location services, and whatever else comes off Apple's servers. That seems more reasonable than China Mobile getting profits from something they have no hand in.

That's really f*ed up! I would say, make a TD-SCDMA-compatible iPhone and make no deal. Let the black market work on itself. If 10 million Chinese people got the iPhone to use it via wifi, imagine what would happen if it was a fully working phone!

I think its funny how all these companies have now started to make THEIR DEMANDS to carry the iPhone. Never seen them act that way before Job's left us. Either they grew some ball's or their testing Cook's. Hope they don't give in.

Lol China Mobile, stop being greedy, App Store isn't yours and you have no right to have a share of the money. Why don't Apple just sell it unlocked at the Apple Store and just cut CM out, I would. It's not as though CM own the mobile network/signals.
Seriously why don't Apple just make a TC-SCDMA phone and sell it in China and place a micro sim cutter in stores lol.

What's next ? China demanding a list of what users in China have downloaded "state unapproved" apps ? Or copies of all email's sent to Apple devices in China ? I'm betting that demanding a slice of app revenue pie is just the beginning.

I think its funny how all these companies have now started to make THEIR DEMANDS to carry the iPhone. Never seen them act that way before Job's left us. Either they grew some ball's or their testing Cook's. Hope they don't give in.

Uhhh, they did this before. Why do you think Verizon didn't get the iPhone for so long? Apple offered it to them first, but Verizon wouldn't give up control.

With double the amount of cell subrscribers than all people actually living in USA I think China Mobile have an excellent bargaining position and somehow I don't think they really care if they carry an iPhone that bad...I mean who are their users going to turn to even if they don't?
And they can ask for whatever they please, it's their right and nobody can tell them otherwise.
The only question is how badly Apple wants a piece of that 600MM user pie and how much they are willing to give up.

I personally love the fact that someone is finally giving Apple some ****, they have been strongarming the whole world for years now and it seems that SLOWLY the tide is changing a little bit.

Lol China Mobile, stop being greedy, App Store isn't yours and you have no right to have a share of the money. Why don't Apple just sell it unlocked at the Apple Store and just cut CM out, I would. It's not as though CM own the mobile network/signals.
Seriously why don't Apple just make a TC-SCDMA phone and sell it in China and place a micro sim cutter in stores lol.

I think its funny how all these companies have now started to make THEIR DEMANDS to carry the iPhone. Never seen them act that way before Job's left us. Either they grew some ball's or their testing Cook's. Hope they don't give in.

What is difference between this news and "U.S. Cellular turned down an offer from Apple to carry the iPhone because the proposed terms were “unnacceptable” according"?The only difference is carrier and Apple switching their position. In this case, the carrier wants to get more from Apple, in other, Apple wants more money from carrier.Business is business, every company wants more profit from any single business activity.